Will natural gas surge mean lights out for nuclear?

by Kate Springer
April 26, 2011

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, utility companies overseas and across the U.S. have halted or cancelled plans to build nuclear power plants, the latest being NRG Energy Inc. in Texas.

But in many cases it’s not the disaster that is causing hold-ups. It’s the promise of natural gas.

With some of the lowest and most stable natural gas prices in U.S. history, building new nuclear facilities is no longer a viable option in competitive markets, experts say. That’s true even for Exelon Corp., operator of the nation’s largest fleet of nuclear power plants.

 

Read more:

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=185411